MEPs condemn new Ukraine censorship law

Yesterday the Ukrainian Parliament passed a bill banning public discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity, in a move similar to Russia. The European Parliament has already condemned the draft Ukrainian law, which violates UN and European legal standards.

The Verkhovna Rada. Credit: J. Boyer/flickr

The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, validated a bill at first reading which bans undefined ‘propaganda’ of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues publicly.

The bill would make it illegal to discuss LGBT issues positively in the media, and include administrative fines and possibly prison terms.

Ulrike Lunacek MEP, Co-President of the LGBT Intergroup in the European Parliament, reacted: “Ukraine has set itself on a collision course with the rest of Europe. This law is not only backward-looking; it is purely anti-democratic, informed by nothing else than prejudice, and fully disrespects Ukraine’s legal obligations.

“I expected more from my Ukrainian colleagues, but in pre-election times, it is easy to score cheap points by witch-hunting the LGBT community. This is the 21st century, and diversity exists in all our societies.”

Answering a question from GroenLinks in the Dutch national parliament, Netherlands Foreign Affairs minister Uri Rosenthal said that, should the law pass, Ukraine’s visa-free travel agreement with the EU would be put on hold indefinitely.

Sophie in ‘t Veld MEP, Vice-President of the LGBT Intergroup, added: “Rather than moving closer to Europe, Ukraine is taking a giant step away from Europe and its values. No country that restricts free speech and violates the rights of its LGBT citizens can expect to remain quietly in the family of European nations.

“I am furious that Ukraine decides to blithely attack a vulnerable minority by denying them the right to free speech, and I expect the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly and Committee of Ministers to be strict and impartial in condemning this move.”

The law must be approved with a second reading and signed by the President before entering into force. Elections will take place in Ukraine on 28 October 2012.

The Intergroup on LGBTI Rights is an informal forum for Members of the European Parliament who wish to advance and protect the fundamental rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people. Members of the Intergroup would usually take a positive stance on LGBTI issues when they draft reports or amendments, when they vote in the Parliament, or when they deal with constituency affairs.